Deforestation In Madagascar

Map of Madagascar

Source: http://www.ganeandmarshall.com/images/map/Madagascar.jpg

What led to Deforestation ?

Colonial ruling

Traditional practices

Weak Government

Thesis

The ongoing environmental issue of deforestation could be prevented by educating sustainable use of resources through better agricultural practices, stronger government policies and efforts to reduce the country’s poverty

Slash and Burn

Why do farmers practice slash and burn ?

How dose this unsustainable practice play’s a role in

deforestation ?

Slash and burn agriculture is also affecting ecosystems

Source: http://www.prixpictet.com/assets/madagascar-ed-kashi-19-690x460.jpg

How has the government played a role ?

Unconstitutional change of government in 2009 led to huge economical loss in conversational founding and tourism from international countries.

Political conflicts increases illegal logging

Did the government itself encourage illegal logging? How so?

Source: http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/48592000/jpg/_48592470_80a7a88e-1351-41ca-a1be-19b522d24d8d.jpg

One of the world’s poorest countries !

How do most of the people survive on a daily basis?

92% of its entire population living in poverty (The World Bank, 2013).

How is the population’s dependence on the land causing an issues ?

Source: http

://www.tradingeconomics.com/madagascar/poverty-headcount-ratio-at-dolla

r2-a-day-ppp-percent-of-population-wb-data.html

 

Possible Solutions

Changing the way the government approaches the deforestation issue

Enforced conservation programs by the government that educates farmers on sustainable agriculture

Promote stronger property rights

References

Clark, M. (2012).Deforestation in Madagascar: Consequences of Population Growth and Unsustainable Agricultural Processes. Global Majority E-Journal,3(1), 1-71. Retrieved from http://www.cas.american.edu/cas/economics/ejournal/upload/Global_Majority_e_Journal_3_1.pdf#page=61

Jarosz, L. (1993). Defining and explaining tropical deforestation: shifting cultivation and population growth in colonial Madagascar (1896-1940). Economic Geography, 69, 4, 366-79. DOI: 10.2307/143595

Kull, C. A. (2002). Madagascar aflame: Landscape burning as peasant protest, resistance, or a resource management tool? Political Geography, 21(7), 927-953. DOI: 10.1016/S0962-6298(02)00054-9

Klein, J. (2002). Deforestation in the Madagascar Highlands – Established “truth” and scientific uncertainty. GeoJournal, 56(3), 191-199. DOI: 10.1023/a:1025187422687

Randriamalala, H., & Zhou, L. (2010). Rosewood of Madagascar: Between democracy and conservation. Madagascar Conservation & Development, 5(1), 11-22.

Rahman, S. A., Rahman, M. F., & Sunderland, T. (2012). Causes and consequences of shifting cultivation and its alternative in the hill tracts of eastern Bangladesh. Agroforestry Systems. DOI: 10.1007/s10457-011-9422-3

The World Bank, (2013). Madagascar: Measuring the Impact of the Political Crisis. Rtrieved from: http://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2013/06/05/madagascar-measuring-the-impact-of-the-political-crisis

Questions for discussion

Do you know of any other country or countries experiencing deforestation in extreme levels a Madagascar?

What might be a suggestion to the government or people of Madagascar?

Of the two, which do you believe had a grater effect on the continent’s deforestation problems? And why?

A. Government policies

B. Traditional practices

Which of the two problems above do you think is more difficult to address and why?